How much Bible do you know? Over the past several months I have been writing about the way people use or misuse the Bible. In the following story, a writer for the Frederick News Post uses the Bible. Tell, me: does the writer of this article use the Bible correctly?

In announcing that Jon and Carrie Lewis will perform at the Mudd Puddle Cafe in Frederick, Maryland on Saturday, Bill D’Agostino, a writer for the Frederick News Post, of Frederick, Maryland, wrote:

There’s a genuine warmness that infuses Jon and Carrie Lewis’ songs.

They are just as amiable in person. Married four years, they still act like newlyweds — with Carrie stealing reassuring glances from Jon during a hour-long interview at their local Westminster coffeehouse.

Their kindness is even reflected in their day jobs. He works outreach at a library, singing and telling stories to children. She teaches at an after-school program for at-risk kids.

On Saturday, they’ll bring their warm harmonies and personalities to the Mudd Puddle Cafe in Frederick. They’ll also have copies of their self-titled, self-produced five-song CD for sale.

Jon and Carrie met as undergraduates at Baptist Bible College in the Poconos Mountains. On their first date, they played each other their songs.

“Afterwards she was like, ‘Oh, he’s all right.’ And I was head over heels,” Jon recalled. “I eventually wore her down.”

Carrie said she came to realize Jon was “a good catch.”

“He was really kind to people on campus — and befriended them — that other people wouldn’t. That really stood out to me,” she said, explaining why she eventually fell for him. “And he also took the time to earn my trust, just to be my friend for a good solid six months before anything else. Before there even was glimmer, we would just hang out.”

Since marrying four years ago, they’ve been making music collaboratively.

As their choice of college suggests, their Christian faith is important to them. It also plays a role in some of their songs.

“Trouble,” a bouncy and harmonic tune written and sung by Jon in a smooth manner reminiscent of Dave Matthews, includes passages paraphrased from the Old Testament Book of Romans and the New Testament Book of Proverbs.

And “New Song,” an atmospheric ballad written and sung by Carrie, is directly about her belief in God. Somedays, she said, her faith seems like it’s primarily doubt. “New Song” is about the glorious moments when the doubt is lifted.

“My songs are always written about my life or deep emotional things,” Carrie said. “Music, even without words or lyrics, is a language that speaks.”

Carrie was initially trained as a classical pianist, and her confident instrumental performance on “New Song” reflects that background. She said it took her a long time to become comfortable as a vocalist.

“I was never the singer, I was always the piano player,” she said. Nevertheless, her soulful crooning gives “New Song” a deeply emotional and personal feel. “You have rescued my poor soul from death,” she sings.

The couple cautioned that they are not out to convert anyone to their faith.

“I try to write about my beliefs in a way that people can listen to and can consider,” Jon said, “and not be beaten over the head.”

What is wrong with this use of the Bible in the article? Did you find the problem? If you did not, read the quote again.

>You are right, but your comment reveals the answer to this difficult puzzle. I wonder how many people, like the writer, did not know that the book of Romans is not in the Old Testament.Claude Mariottini

>dr. mariottini – i can’t help but want to give this guy the benefit of the doubt. i really want to hope that it was just a simple juxtaposition not caught by an editor.man, i hope so…much love,tuf(a long time lurker around here)

>ah, "Anonymous" I see you have taken the quote of "not being out to convert anyone" out of context. The context of this statement is that beliefs aka The Gospel should be shared, and not used to "beat people over the head". So, your critique is not relevant.

Dr. Claude Mariottini

I have been professor of Old Testament at Northern Baptist Seminary since 1988. I was born in Brazil. I graduated from California Baptist College, Golden Gate Baptist Seminary, The Southern Baptist Seminary, and have done additional graduate work at the Graduate Theological Union. I have pastored churches in California, Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois. I have published more than 200 articles and book reviews in English, Spanish, and Russian. My academic works have been published in The Anchor Bible Dictionary, The Mercer Dictionary of the Bible, The Holman Bible Dictionary, Jewish Bible Quarterly, Perspective in Religious Studies, The Expository Times, Biblical Illustrator, Old Testament Abstracts, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, The Journal of Biblical Literature, and Biblical Archaeologist.